Frank Seravalli reports the Rangers and Ducks are in advanced discussions on a Mason McTavish trade, though he stresses it isn't done.
The wording is careful. Seravalli said sources have the two sides in advanced talks, was clear the deal is NOT done, but called it a distinct possibility worth watching.
Look at the prize. McTavish is a 23-year-old center on a $7M deal, coming off 41 points. A young, controllable pivot is exactly the kind of player teams chase and rarely land.
This is also a shift. The McTavish market had centered on Montreal, with Darren Dreger tying the Habs to him, and now Seravalli puts the Rangers closest.
New York's motive is clear. The Rangers finished 29th under Mike Sullivan, and a young center is precisely what a retooling club builds around.
Seravalli laid out where it stands.
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How New York moved ahead of the Montreal talk
The word "advanced" carries weight. That's further down the road than the exploratory interest others had reported, which means the Rangers aren't just kicking tires here.
But advanced isn't final. Seravalli flagged it isn't done, and deals at this stage still collapse on price or the specific pieces involved.
The Anaheim side is about the return. The Ducks sit 17th, and moving a 23-year-old center only makes sense if Chris Drury's package hits the number they want.
It also fits a busy stretch for Drury. New York has been tied to a move up the draft board and other names, and now a concrete McTavish push. The GM is clearly hunting.
Here's my read: a 23-year-old center is a foundational add, and if Drury closes this, it's a real swing for a team that badly needs one down the middle. Seravalli calling it a distinct possibility makes it the most serious McTavish development to date.
So the Rangers, not Montreal, are now the team to watch on this one.
With the draft Friday, whether these advanced talks close or stall on the price is the thread to follow. Advanced, not done.
Should the Rangers pay up to land Mason McTavish?
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